The S&P 500 gained 0.4 percent to 2,832.94. The benchmark index is now up 13 percent for 2019 so far, which is a bigger gain than it’s had in four of the last five full years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3 percent to 25,914.10.

The Nasdaq composite added 0.3 percent to 7,714.48, while the Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks picked up 0.7 percent, to 1,563.93.

Investors are speculating over whether the Federal Reserve might slow its pace of interest rate increases. The worry in December was that the central bank would raise rates too fast, choking off growth as the global economy slowed. The Fed will meet to discuss interest-rate policy later week, with an announcement scheduled for Wednesday.

Economists expect the Fed to announce no change to rates, but it might release documents that would suggest one rate increase in 2019, or possibly zero, after the Fed raised rates four times in 2018 and three times in 2017.

ENERGY: Benchmark US crude oil was unchanged at $59.09 a barrel. It rose 1 percent on Tuesday. Brent crude gained 4 cents to $67.58 a barrel.

CURRENCIES: The dollar fell to 111.26 yen from 111.56 yen Monday. The euro strengthened to $1.1344 from $1.1338.

Donate

For years Intellasia.Net has been provided local updates in many Asia countries for free. If you love what we're doing you can show a helping hand by donation button bellow. Any amount is greatly appreciated. Your support will directly help with the monthly server fee as well as support our editors